Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 33% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$998
$702
+30% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$758
+42% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$977
+35% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,177
+37% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$130,600
+69% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$55,902
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$49,540
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
38.2 yr
+2.6 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
61.3%
59.2%
+2.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
29.1%
+12.8 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
16.7 min
+6.1 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
856.5
+19% in Topeka, KS
Property Crime
3,488.7
3,660.2
+5% in Topeka, KS

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
55.1°F
+6.1°F in Topeka, KS
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
36.5 in
+19.9 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.85/gal
+7% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.7
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$25.12
+67% in Topeka, KS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Topeka, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Topeka, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / KS)
2.9%
6.5%
+3.6 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
5.58%
+1.2 pp in KS

Colorado Springs vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Topeka?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).